Commentary for Pesachim 155:21

בציבור מ"ט משום דטומאה הותרה בציבור חדא דשמעת ליה לר' יוסי דאמר טומאה דחויה היא בציבור ועוד אי בציבור רבי אליעזר מכשיר ולא רבי יהושע

which were there:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Some ashes were kept of every red heifer killed since Moses.');">¹⁷</span> this is R'Meir's view. R'Jose said: We besprinkle them on the third day and on the seventh day alone.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Yoma 4a.');">¹⁸</span> Now if you should think that R'Jose holds, Uncleanness was permitted in the case of a community, why do I need sprinkling at all?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Seeing that the sacrifices of the Day of Atonement were public offerings.');">¹⁹</span> Hence it is clear that our Mishnah does not agree with R'Jose. R'Papa said to Abaye: And does R'Jose grant the [Court's] document to two!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In a lawsuit the court granted a document containing the verdict to the winner. Here R. Jose grants this document to both sides - i.e., he agrees with both R. Eliezer and R. Joshua.');">²⁰</span> For it was taught, R'Jose said: I agree with the words of R'Eliezer in respect to meal-offerings and [animal] sacrifices, and with the words of R'Joshua in respect to sacrifices and meal-offering.' The words of R'Eliezer in respect to sacrifices for he used to say: The blood [is fit] even if there is no flesh; 'the words of R'Joshua in respect to sacrific for he used to say: If there is no blood there is no flesh, if there is no flesh there is no blood.' The words o Eliezer in respect to meal-offerings, for he used to say: the handful [is fit] even if there is no remainder [fi for consumption]; 'and the words of R'Joshua in respect to meal-offerings,' for he used to say: if there is no remainder there is no handful, [and] if there is no handful there is no remainder! Said he to him: He states what appears logical [to him].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Without expressing agreement either with the one or the other.');">²¹</span> [Thus:] when he was studying [the subject of] sacrifices<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'when he stands at sacrifices.'');">²²</span> he said: It is logical [that] just as they differ in respect to sacrifices, so do they differ in re meal-offerings too. [And] when he was studying [the subject of] meal-offerings he said: It is logical [that] jus as they differ in respect to meal-offerings, so do they differ in respect to sacrifices too. Said he to him: It correct [that] when he was studying [the subject of] sacrifices he said: It is logical [that] just as they diffe respect to sacrifices, so do they differ in respect to meal-offerings too, because the verses [on this matter] a written fundamentally in connection with sacrifices.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. verses quoted supra 77a.');">²³</span> But when he is studying [the subject of] meal-offerings and he says, It is logical [that] just as they differ in respect to meal-offerings, so do they di in respect to sacrifices too, - but surely, the verses are fundamentally written in connection with sacrifices! - Rather [explain it thus], there is no difficulty: I agree with the words of R'Eliezer, where it [the flesh] w defiled, and with the words of R'Joshua, where it was lost or burnt. Where it was defiled, what is the reason [that he agrees with R'Eliezer]? Because the headplate propitiates! Surely you know R'Jose to maintain [that] the headplate does not propitiate for [the defilement of] eatables! - Rather [explain it thus], there is difficulty: I agree with the words of R'Eliezer in the case of the community; I agree with the words of R'Joshua in the case of an individual. In the case of the community, what is the reason [that he agrees with R'Eliezer]? Because uncleanness is permitted in the case of a community? But one [objection] is that you know R'Jose to maintain [that] uncleanness is overridden in the case of a community. Again, if it refers to a community, [does only] R'Eliezer declare it fit, but not R'Joshua?

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